THT Watch

Kathmandu, August 12:

Foul smell emanating from the leaking sewage water on the eastern side of the Singha Durbar has made the life of Anamnagar folk difficult. While commuters are forced to cover their noses with hankies, the problem aggravates during the monsoon with speeding vehicles splashing dirty water on the pedestrians.

Anamnagar locals say waste water running from Shree Jung Battalion — a security unit inside Singha Durbar — is to be blamed for all the mess.

Locals and security unit had a tussle after the former accused the latter of discharging sewage water on the road.

According to Ram Prasad Belbase, administrative officer at Singha Durbar Re-Construction Committee, the problem arose after Singha Durbar was squeezed by about 5-6 meters in 1990 to expand the road from Babar Mahal to Anamnagar. “Before this, the security unit had its own area to discharge the waste water from the kitchen. Later they connected a pipeline to discharge the waste water to the local sewage pipeline,” said Belbase.

The problem aggravates in monsoon as the pipelines, which were built more than two decades ago, are too small to hold the current flow of waste water generated from the ever-increasing population.

Who is responsible

On August 6, the Singha Durbar Re-Construction Committee held a meeting with the stakeholders concerned to propose a long-term solution to the problem. As part of a temporary measure, according to an agreement, Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited will clear the sewage pipeline. Administrative officer of the committee Ram Prasad Belbase said a new sewage line would be set up and that would be extended up to Dhobikhola in Anamnagar. However, planning of the construction is yet to be finalised.

— Ram Prasad Belbase,

Administrative officer,

Singha Durbar

Re-Construction

Committee

Who is responsible

On August 6, the Singha Durbar Re-Construction Committee held a meeting with the stakeholders concerned to propose a long-term solution to the problem. As part of a temporary measure, according to an agreement, Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited will clear the sewage pipeline. Administrative officer of the committee Ram Prasad Belbase said a new sewage line would be set up and that would be extended up to Dhobikhola in Anamnagar. However, planning of the construction is yet to be finalised.

— Ram Prasad Belbase, Administrative officer, Singha Durbar Re-Construction Committee